Marcos condemns alleged China attack on Filipino seafarers
Philippines President Marcos condemns alleged assault on Filipino sailors as Beijing releases video accusing Philippine personnel of ramming coast guard vessel
MANILA, Philippines (MNTV) – The Philippines and China have escalated a war of words over a clash between Filipino seafarers and the Chinese Coast Guard at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ren’ai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned what he called an assault on a Filipino sailors, while Beijing released video footage alleging that Philippine personnel rammed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and attacked its officers.
Marcos said a sailor was injured while defending Philippine sovereignty and praised the military personnel involved in the incident, according to Philippine daily PhilStar.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the assault against our personnel who were carrying out their lawful duties,” Marcos said, adding that the Philippines “will never be intimidated” in protecting its rights and interests in the South China Sea.
China released video footage of Monday’s confrontation, accusing Philippine personnel of ramming a China Coast Guard (CCG) patrol vessel and attacking Chinese officers with paddles and long poles near Ren’ai Jiao.
The Philippine Coast Guard and military rejected Beijing’s account, saying Chinese coast guard personnel boarded Philippine boats during what Manila described as a routine resupply mission and injured a Filipino Navy sailor.
In Beijing, the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry summoned the Philippine ambassador and lodged a protest over what it called the “Philippines’ deliberate provocation at Ren’ai Jiao and its attack” on CCG law enforcement personnel.
“The Chinese side pointed out that Ren’ai Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao and is Chinese territory. CCG’s law enforcement activities in the waters near Ren’ai Jiao are lawful and legitimate,” according to Chinese state-run Global Times.
Beijing described the “nature” of the Philippine side’s “actions” as “egregious.”
“The Philippines initiated the provocation but has instead sought to shift the blame, distort the facts, and maliciously hype the incident. China expressed its strong dissatisfaction and lodged a solemn protest,” the report added.
The latest exchange underscores worsening tensions between the two neighbors over competing claims in the South China Sea, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent confrontations at sea.
Ren’ai Jiao has become one of the region’s most volatile flashpoints, with repeated encounters between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval vessels in recent years.
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